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Aggression: Is Violence Learned?

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Aggression: Is Violence Learned?
In the film, “Aggression: Is violence learned? “We hear from experts about children and teens that commit the ultimate act of violent aggression, murder. What causes aggressive behavior and is it learned or is some kids born with the anger already inside of them? According to Dr. Steven Taylor, “20% of child murderers are children and 10% of juvenile murderers are under 15 years of age” (Aggression, 2013). There is no conclusive evidence but experts all agree that media, TV and video games of violence can significantly increase the chances of children exhibiting violent behaviors towards others. Some of the examples of violence in the James Bulger murder were being dropped on his head. The little boy was also dragged, tortured and kicked. …show more content…
They walked into the cafeteria and fired over 176 shots between the two of them. They killed 12 students, 1 teacher and wounded many others before turning the guns on themselves in an apparent suicide mission. The Holocaust was also discussed and Adolf Hitler’s role in the worst mass genocide mission in Germany. The social identity theory and Milligram experiments were compared to this horrific time in history. Most of the people who killed for Hitler in the Holocaust were young males who were impressionable and wanted to impress Hitler. Their fear of punishment was also too much for them to consider having any other choice. The authoritative role that Hitler had in the government was too high a risk for the men to ignore and they felt compelled to carry out whatever the task he ordered them to carry out. Anomie is “a condition in society in which rules of behavior or values have broken down during periods of rapid social …show more content…
there is a higher likelihood of them becoming unsympathetic to others. Especially the younger child, that is more likely in their early stages of learning to imitate what they see and hear just like in the Bobo doll studies by Bandura. For the older child I don’t believe that all will turn violent when watching violent video games but for those that suffer from any type of mental instability there will also be more likelihood that they turn to imitating what they see. Also other factors need to be included such as bullying or peer pressure, family problems, etc. I can understand and agree that repetitive watching could prime the neurons in ones brain to act upon those urges for violence like phycologists suggest. I do not agree with the Milligram experiments. I personally would not agree to anything for anyone no matter whom it was like what was shown in the film as an experiment. One can identify with someone without obeying them so I’m not really sold on that theory, however with that said in regards to children I will concede that some might go along with others in authority. The social identity theory might then apply to them. Younger children are more likely to imitate and obey but older ones should know

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